No petition by BN parliamentarians over 'reform' Bills

Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today denied there was any petition from backbenchers over how two 'reform' Bills are being rushed through. This, among other snippets from the House today.

No BN MPs petition over 'reform' Bills

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has denied claims there was a petition by Barisan Nasional MPs to protest over the short period for them to discuss two ‘reform' Bills.

"I never received any letter," Pandikar said when met by reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He was asked to comment on a claim made by Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) quoting sources that about 50 MPs have submitted a joint letter to the Speaker to highlight their concerns over how two Bills are being rushed through in the House.

The two Bills will pave the way for the setting up of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).

They were tabled by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last Wednesday and are expected to be passed on Thursday, the end of the current sitting.

When met, BN Backbenchers Club chairperson Tiong King Sing also denied the claim and said there was no unhappiness over the short time frame, up to four days, allocated to debate the Bills.

The Bintulu MP nevertheless conceded there were initial concerns among the backbenchers over some provisions in the Bills but their concerns have been addressed by the relevant government agencies.

'Lingam tape' witnesses show up in parliament

What is the connection between the proposed MACC and lawyer VK Lingam's brother, V Thirunama Karasu, as well as the lawyer's former secretary GN Jeyanthi?

The duo, who testified in the royal commission of inquiry on the infamous ‘Lingam tape' earlier this year, were present at an opposition press conference at the Parliament lobby today to stress that the MACC needs to be serious in its enforcement.

R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) pointed out that although the commission has recommended fresh investigations into certain claims made by both Thirunama and Jeyanthi over the fixing of judicial appointments, no action has been taken by the Anti-Corruption Agency so far.

"You can make a good law but at the end of the day, what happens to the enforcement? We hope the MACC will behave in a different fashion," the MP told a press conference.

Karpal tells CJ to quit in letter

Veteran lawyer Karpal Singh has written to the Chief Justice Zaki Azmi asking the latter to step down after the judiciary's No 1 apparently admitted to corrupt practices while in private practice.

"It will be in the national interest for you to step down forthwith to save further embarrassment to the country," the DAP national chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP said in a letter handed over to Zaki's office today.

Copies of the letter were distributed to the media in a press conference by Karpal at the Parliament lobby this morning.

Karpal launched his attack against Zaki after the latter was quoted in a New Straits Times report as saying that he ‘bribed' court employees during his days as a practising lawyer.

Zaki however issued a clarification later, saying the reporter had misinterpreted him.

Emergency motion on fishermen strike

DAP Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen is seeking an emergency debate on the nationwide fishermen's strike over their unhappiness with the price of the subsidised diesel and petrol.

In an emergency motion submitted to the speaker's office today, Chong said the strike was prompted by the government's lack of concern in the problem faced by the fishermen.

The speaker is expected to decide on Thursday whether to allow the DAP MP's motion. The motion needs to be definite, urgent and of public interest before it can be debated in the House.

The strike, which started last Friday, reportedly involved some 45,000 fishermen from seven states.

On Saturday, the government announced that the price of subsidised diesel and petrol for fishermen will be reduced from RM1.43 per litre to RM1.30 per litre effective Tuesday.

However, the fishermen decided to continue with the strike as they did not get the RM1 per litre they had requested.